Railroad cross-tie.



No. 819,725. 7 I PATENTED MAY 8, 1906 A. E. GASKBY. RA ILROAD GROSS TIE.

APPLICATION FILED $23113, 1905.

5 9 hug- $5 I? \g; J

guoantoc UNITED s'ra'rns PATENT. onnron.

'ARTLEY E. CASKEY, OF PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA.

' RAILROAD CROSS-TIE.-

"Patented May 8, 1906.

Application filed September 13, 1905. Serial No- 278,283

To. all whom it mayo 01206171 Be it known that I, ARTLEY E. CASKEY, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Parkersburg, inthe county of Wood and State of West Virginia, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Railroad Cross-Ties, of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relates to metallic rail-ties,

and has for its objects to provide a comparatively simple inexpensive device of this character presenting the requisite strength and durability and one possessing a determinate amount of elasticity or yieldability, thus combining the desirable qualities of metal and wooden ties.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient devices for detachably securing the rails to the ties and one wherein said devices may be properly and conveniently adjusted for rails of varying widths.

To these ends the invention comprises the novel features of construct-ion and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tie embodying the invention and showing the rails in section thereon.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same with the rails removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the improved tie" comprising a lower box-like section 2 and an upper section 3, the latter having a depending continuous marginal flange 4, adapted to overlap the vertical walls of the section 2, for which the section 3 constitutes a cover. The walls of the section 2 are smooth and unbroken by projections or shoulders,

- and the marginal flange 4 of the section 3 has unrestricted movement over the said walls and is-liniited in a downward direct-ion under maximum pressure by the top of section 3 striking or contacting with the upper edgeof the section 2.

Housed in the lie is a plurality, prefer ably four, verticallydisposed normally expanded cushioning members or springs 5, arranged in pairs beneath the overlying rails 6 and designed. for yieldably sustaining the cover or section 3 in slightly-elcva l'cd position relative to the section 2, as shown, and for a purposewhich will presently appear, these springs being seated at theirlower ends on studs or projections 7, formed on the inner face of the bottom of the tie and serving to maintain the springs in proper'position while the sections are secured together and move ment of the section 3 under influence of the,

springs limited by vertical bolts 8, extended transversely through the tie. The boltsfS are arranged in parallel pairs at opposite ends of the tie, as shown by Fig. 4, torender the movement of the section 3 re ular and avoid any tendency to' rocking, the said section loosely moving or sliding over the up er extremities of said bolts. These bolts also prevent thcsection 3 separating from the section 2. The rails 6 are detachably fastened to the tie by means of clam ing members 9, adapted to engage over the liases of, the rails and each provided with a diagonal slot 10, formed to receive fastening devices or bolts 11, by which the clamping members. are in turn secured to the tie. The diagonal slot-s 10 are formed in the flat bodies of the clamp ing members, fitted closely against the top of the section 3 at diagonally opposite points, and projecting inwardly from said bodies are upwardly-inclined arms to fit over the railbases. The diagonal slots 10 in the contiguous pairs of clamping members'are reversely disposed or the two slots inwardly-converge to effect a positive adjustment to clamp a rail and permit a ready r'eleaseby a sliding motion to and from the rail.

In practice the springs 5 yieldably supportthe section 3, on which the rails bear thus permitting slight vertical downward movcment of the rails under the influence of the weight of a load passing thereover, as in the instance of wooden ties, it being particularly noted in this connection that the position of the springs relative to the rails is such as to afford proper support for the rails. It is also to be observed that the cleats S) will clamp the rails firmly and securely in place on the tie and that the cleats may be quicklyadjusted for engagement with rails of varying widths.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have produced a simple inexpensive device admirably adapted for the attainment of the ends in view, it; being on derst ood that minor changes in the details herein set forth may be resorted t o iivithou departing from fhe spirit railged, slid iipwardly-irlcliiied arms to fit of theinvention. v lover a miLbase. v

. v i IO Hgyingthus desoribed my myention; what i In: testimony whereof I affixmy signature I claim asnew 1sin presence of two witnesses. 5 Aerailitie pairs 'of'oppositelysdisv ARTLEYi E., CASKEY.

posed clamping members near the ends of t? ;e Witnesses 1 top thereof, each pair of members having-fiat ,G. :W. CARY, 1 bodies with oblique slots convergingly ar- H. FLOWER. 

